Associating and folding mechanism



Nov. 19, 1940. H. M. BARBER ASSOCIATING' AND FOLDING MECHANISM FiledOct. 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q INVENTOR M ATTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1940.

H. M. BARBER ASSOCIATING AND FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 26, 1959 v 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFlCE ASSOCIATING AND FOLDING MECHANISM Application October 26,1939, Serial No. 301,339

Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide novel means for selectivelyhandling two different sized products of a rotary web printing press,one where the form cylinder is an even number of plates around and theother where the form cylinder is an odd number of plates around.

My invention more particularly comprises two independently operatedunits for selectively cutting, folding and delivering products of thepress When running four or five plates around the form cylinder, theassociated printed webs in the first instance being cut into two twoplate length signatures, folded and delivered in separate products totwo deliveries; and in the second instance into two and three platelength signatures, folded and delivered, the once folded two platelength signatures to one delivery and the twice folded three platelength signatures to the other delivery.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a side elevation withthe parts in the positions they assume to utilize the first cutting,folding and delivery unit, the second unit being silenced;

Fig. 2 represents a similar view with the parts in the positions whichthey assume to utilize the second cutting, folding and delivery unit,the first unit being silenced; and

Fig. 3 represents a detail longitudinal central section through the fourcylinders of the first unit.

The first cutting, folding and delivery unit is designed in the presentinstance to handle the product of a rotary web printing press in whichthe form cylinder is four plates around, one-half of the product beingdelivered to one delivery and the other half of the product to anotherdelivery. This first cutting, folding and delivery unit comprises thepair of coacting cutting and folding cylinders l, 2, the deliverycylinders 3, land the deliveries 5, E.

The cylinders i, 2 are provided with coacting cutters 'l, 8 and 9, itwhich are arranged to cut signatures of two plates length from theassociated Webs. These cylinders also are provided with coacting foldingdevices II, It and it, It for folding off successive signatures to thecylinders I, 2 respectively.

The delivery cylinder 3 is provided with three sets of grippers H3, it,I! which coact with the folding jaw It on the cylinder I. The deliverycylinder 4 is provided with three sets of grippers l8, iii, which coactwith the folding jaw E2 on the cylinder 2. The deliveries 5, 6' areherein shown as horizontally disposed traveling endless carriersarranged to receive the folded signatures from their respective deliverycylinders 3. l.

Stationary cams 2|, 22, 23, 24 may be employed to insure the properoperation of the folding devices and grippers in the usual manner, tofold and deliver the folded signatures to their intended deliveries.

The delivery cylinders 3, 4 are driven at a lesser surface speed thanthe cylinders l, 2 as for instance through the trains of gears 25, 26,2f, 28 and, 29, 30, iii, 32 respectively. The gears and 29 intermesh andmay be driven from the drive shaft 33 through the gear 36 and theremovable or shiftable gear 35.

The second cutting, folding and delivery unit is designed to handle theproduct of a press in which the form cylinder is five plates around, theproduct being cut into signatures of two and three plates lengthrespectively; the signatures of two plates length being once molded anddelivered to one delivery and the signatures of three plates lengthbeing twice folded and delivered to the opposite delivery. This secondcutting, folding and delivery unit comprises the coacting cutting andfolding cylinders 36, 37, delivery cylinder 38, its delivery 39, foldingcylinders it, it, delivery cylinder 42 and its delivery 43.

The cylinders 3E, 37 are provided with cutters i l, #5, which cut thesignatures of two plates length from the associated webs and also withcutters (it, M which cut the signatures of three plates length from theassociated webs. These cylinders 3t, 37 are also provided with coactingfolding devices it, 49 for folding off the signatures of two plateslength from the cylinder St to the cylinder 37. The delivery cylinder itis provided with three sets of grippers EB, iii, 52 which take the oncefolded signatures of two plates length from the folding device M! on thecylinder iii. The delivery 39 is arranged to receive the folded twoplates length signatures from. the delivery cylinder 38.

The cylinders 38 and are provided with coacting folding devices 53, 54for folding off the three plates length signatures at the first third oftheir length, to the cylinder All). The cylinders til and ii areprovided with the coacting folding devices 55, 56 for folding off thethree plates length signatures at the second third of their length, tothe cylinder 4|. The delivery cylinder 42 is provided with three sets ofgrippers 51, 58, 59 which take the twice folded signatures of threeplates length from the folding device 56 on the cylinder 4|.

The delivery 43 is arranged to receive the folded signatures from thedelivery cylinder 42.

Stationary cams 60, 6|, 62, 63, 64 may be employed to insure the properoperation of the folding devices and grippers in the usual manner, tofold and deliver the signatures to their respective deliveries.

The delivery cylinder 38 is driven at a lesser surface speed than thecylinders 36 and 31 through the train of gears 65, 66, 61, 68, the gear65 meshing with the gear 69 on the cylinder 36.

The cylinders 40 and 4| are driven at the same surface speed as thecylinders 36 and 31 through the train of gears 69, Ill, H. The deliverycylinder 42 is driven at a lesser surface speed as for instance throughthe train of gears 1|, 12, 13, 14.

The gear 69 on the cylinder 36 may be driven from the drive shaft gear34 through the removable or shiftable gear 13. The webs are associatedby the rollers 16, :1 before entering the first cutting, folding anddelivery unit, the roller ET in the present instance being positivelydriven from the drive shaft 33 through the bevel gears 13, I9, shaft 83,bevel gears 8|, 82, shaft 83 and bevel gears 84, 85.

When a product of five plates length is to be handled by the secondcutting, folding and delivery unit the associated webs pass between theguide rollers 86, 8'1, the roller 8'! being driven from the cylindergear 65 through the gears 88, 83. In this latter event the associatedwebs pass through a slot 60 in a turnable crossbar 9| adjacent thecylinders 2, said crossbar having an operating arm 92.

Curved guides 93, 94 are located under the cylinders l, 2 of the firstunit, and curved guides 95, 96 are similarly located under the cylinders36, 31 of the second unit.

The cylinder of the first unit is provided with flattened surfaces 3'1,97 to permit the free passage of the associated webs between thecylinders i and 2 when the first unit is silenced and the second unit isbeing used.

The cylinder 36 is provided with impaling pins 93 adjacent the cuttingdevice 43. A crossbar 99 is located between the curved guides 95, 96.

In operation, When it is desired to handle a product of the press withfour plates around the form cylinder the second unit is silenced byremoving or shifting the gear out of mesh with the drive shaft gear 35.The gear 35 is put into mesh with the drive shaft gear 34 therebyoperatively connecting the first unit to the drive shaft. The bar 3| isturned to close its slot 93 to the passage of the associated webstherethrough. As the associated webs pass between the cylinders and 2the signatures of two plates length are successively cut from theassociated webs, alternate signatures being folded off to the cylindersand 2 respectively; the once folded two plates length signatures on thecylinder I being taken by the grippers on the delivery cylinder 3 anddeposited on the delivery carrier 3 and the once folded two plateslength signature on the cylinder 2 being taken by the grippers on thedelivery cylinder and deposited on the delivery carrier 6.

When it is desired to handle a product of the press with five platesaround the form cylinder the first printing unit is silenced by theremoval or shifting of the gear 35 out of mesh with the drive shaft gear34 and the meshing of the gear "13 with the drive shaft gear 34 tooperatively connect the second unit thereto.

The cylinders of the first unit are turned to bring one of the flattenedsurfaces 91, 9'! of the cylinder opposite the surface of the cylinder 2,to permit the free passage of the associated webs therebetween. The bar9| is turned to permit the passage of the associated webs through theslot 30 to and between the guide rollers 36, 81 and between thecylinders 33, 31 of the second unit. The associated webs of five platelength are cut into one signature of two plate length and one signatureof three plate length. The signature of two plate length is cut withtabs connecting it to the signature of three plate length so that theleading ends of the signature of two plate length are carried around thecylinder 36 by the signature of three plate length until separatedtherefrom by the coaction of the folding devices 13, 39 on the cylinders36, 31. This once folded signature of two plate length is then taken bythe delivery grippers on the delivery cylinder 38 and deposited therebyon the delivery carrier 39.

The signature of three plate length is first folded one-third of itslength by the folding devices 53, 5 3 on the cylinders 36, 40, and it isagain folded two-thirds its original length by the folding devices 55,53 on the cylinders Gil, 4|. The twice folded signature is then taken bythe grippers on the delivery cylinder 42 and deposited thereby on thedelivery carrier 43,

It is evident that various changes may be re sorted to in theconstruction, form and arrangeient of the several parts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do notintend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown anddescribed, but

What I claim is:

1. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operatedcutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle aproduct where there are an even number of plates around the press formcylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product wherethere are an odd number of plates around the press form cylinder, webassociating and forwarding rollers common to both units and twodeliveries for both the first and second named units.

2. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operatedcutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle aproduct where there are four plates around the press form cylinder, andthe other unit being arranged to handle a product where there are fiveplates around the press form cylinder, web associating and forwardingrollers common to both units and two deliveries for both the first andsecond named units.

3. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operatedcutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle aproduct where there are an even number of plates around the press formcylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product wherethere are an odd number of plates around the press form cylinder, webassociating and forwarding rollers common to both units and twodeliveries for both the first and second named units, the first andsecond named units comprising four and six cylinders respectively.

4. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operatedcutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle aproduct Where there are four plates around the press form cylinder, andthe other unit being arranged to handle a product where there are fiveplates around the press form cylinder, web

associating and forwarding rollers common to both units and twodeliveries for both the first and second named units, the first andsecond named units comprising four and six cylinders respectively.

5. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operatedcutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle aproduct where there are an even number of plates around the press formcylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product wherethere are an odd number of plates around the press form cylinder, andtwo deliveries for both the first and second named units, a common maindrive for both units, and means for connecting the drive to the one orthe other of said units.

6. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operatedcutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle aproduct where there are four plates around the press form cylinder, andthe other unit being arranged to handle a product where there fiveplates around the press form cylinder, and two deliveries for both thefirst and second named units, a common main drive for both units, andmeans for connecting the drive to the one or the other of said units.

7. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operatedcutting, foldingand delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle aproduct where there are an even number of plates around the press formcylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product wherethere are an odd number of plates around the press form cylinder, webassociating and forwarding rollers common to both units and twodeliveries for both the first and second named units, the first namedunit comprising two coacting cutting and folding cylinders and twodelivery cylinders coacting with their respective cutting and foldingcylinders, and the second named unit comprising cutting, folding anddelivery cyliners coacting to deliver a once folded signature of an evennumber of plates length to one point and a twice folded signature of anodd number of plates length to another point.

8. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operatedcutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle aproduct where there are four plates around the press form cylinder, andthe other unitbeing arranged to handle a product where there are fiveplates around the press form cylinder, web associating and forwardingrollers common to both units and two deliveries for both the first andsecond named units, the first named unit comprising two coacting cuttingand folding cylinders and two delivery cylinders coacting with theirrespective cutting and folding cylinders to deliver once foldedsignatures of two plates length, and the second named unit comprisingcutting, folding and delivery cylinders coacting to deliver a oncefolded signature of two plates length to one point and a twice foldedsignature of three plates length to another point.

9. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operatedcutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle aproduct where there are an even number of plates around the press formcylinder, and the other unit being arranged to handle a product wherethere are an odd number of plates around the press form cylinder, andtwo deliveries for both the first and second named units, the firstnamed unit comprising two coacting cutting and folding cylinders and twodelivery cylinders coacting with their respective cutting and foldingcylinders, and the second named unit comprising cutting, folding anddelivery cylinders coacting to deliver a once folded signature of aneven number of plates length to one point and a twice folded signatureof an odd number of plates length to another point, a common main drivefor both units, and means for connecting the drive to the one or theother of said units.

10. In an associating and folding mechanism, two selectively operatedcutting, folding and delivery units, one unit being arranged to handle aproduct where there are four plates around the press form cylinder, andthe other unit being arranged to handle a product where there are fiveplates around the press form cylinder, and two deliveries for both thefirst and second named units, the first named unit comprising twocoacting cutting and folding cylinders and two delivery cylinderscoacting with their respective cutting and folding cylinders to deliveronce fold-- ed signatures of two plates length, and the second namedunit comprising cutting, folding and delivery cylinders coacting todeliver a once folded signature of two plates length to one point and atwice folded signature of three plates length to another point, a commonmain drive for both units, and means for connecting the drive to the oneor the other of said units.

HOWARD M. BARBER.

